In baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

, sidearm describes balls thrown along a low, approximately horizontal axis rather than a high, mostly vertical axis (overhand).

Sidearm is a common way of throwing the ball in the infield

Infield

Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...

, because many throws must be made hurriedly from the glove after fielding ground balls. An infielder’s quickest throw to the bases is often from just above ground level, necessitating a horizontal release of the ball.

Sidearm pitcher

Pitcher

In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...

s, also known as sidewinders, are uncommon at all levels of baseball (except in Japan

Professional baseball in Japan

Professional baseball in Japan first started in the 1920s, but it was not until the was established in 1934 that the modern professional game had continued success.-History:...

, where sidearm pitchers are widely popular).